the president said he had approved a covert mission inside pakistan that resulted in the death of the founder and later of al qaeda, the group that attacked us on september 11th, 2001, which led congress to pass the authorization for use of military force, which has justified the 12 years of war that have followed ever since. so the announcement that bin laden was dead on may 21st -- excuse me, on may 1st, 2010, may 1st, 2010. two days later, two days later on may 3rd, 2010, two days after that announcement, retired senator chuck hagel gave an interview to his hometown paper in lincoln, nebraska "the journal star." he told the paper it should reassure america and the world that america is still a leader, and we can and will get the job done. he said, quote, that is very important for the world to realize. more the point, though, chuck hagel then said, "well, now that we've killed osama bin laden, let's leave afghanistan." he said that the pursuit of bin laden and al qaeda was, quote, the reason we invaded afghanistan ten years ago. now that bin laden was dead, the president he said ha